Defense seeks ban on mention of Druid beliefs at Vaughn murder trial

Christopher Vaughn is charged with the 2007 shooting deaths of his wife, Kimberly, and their children, Cassandra, from left, 11; Blake, 8; and Abigayle, 12. (Family photo HANDOUT)

Attorneys for Christopher Vaughn are asking a judge to bar any mention of the Oswego man’s Druid beliefs when he goes on trial this year for murdering his wife and three young children.

Assistant Public Defender Jaya Varghese argued in Will County court Friday that mentioning the religion, likely an unfamiliar one to jurors, would “significantly impact” Vaughn's constitutional rights to a fair trial.

She also said Vaughn’s religious beliefs weren’t relevant.

“It’s going to cause jurors to speculate,” she said. “Is it a cult? Is it a religion? What is it?”

“The word ‘Druid’ alone is prejudicial,” Varghese said.

Prosecutors said they don’t plan to discuss Vaughn’s religious beliefs at all, but do want to present jurors with postings Vaughn made to a Druid listserv shortly before the 2007 murders.

In one dated April 24, Vaughn asked “does anyone know of anyone in the Yukon territories by chance?” and added that he wanted to move there “permanently,” said Assistant State’s Attorney John Connor.

Vaughn spent time in Canada a month later, he said.

But prosecutors also want to include a posting Vaughn made in which he called himself a “solitary Druid.” Connor said it was another indication that Vaughn wanted to rid himself of his family.

“It’s basically motive evidence,” he said of Vaughn’s statements, and nothing that would trigger the “religious protections” in the law.

Varghese argued it would be impossible for jurors to only consider motive and not Vaughn’s religious beliefs.

Judge Daniel Rozak said he would give his ruling on the issue next Friday.

Vaughn, 37, is charged with killing his family in their Ford Expedition after pulling off Interstate 55 in Channahon Township on the way from Oswego to a Springfield water park in 2007. Vaughn’s trial is scheduled to begin in August.